The Unifying Factor (Part 2)
(The Value: Perception)

By Carlos Fontana

"Carlos, I went to all this trouble to impress upon you the seriousness with which I wish you to consider my proposal."

"I figured that out by myself."

"I knew you would," he stated, while touching my left knee with his right hand, to capture my full attention and arrest any further interruption. "I believe this is more than just important. I believe we can do something together which will change the very mindscape we are living with. And not just for us. What we can do for each other will change the way everyone else will view the universe.

"Don't laugh, I'm serious," he continued. "Here, this will be easier if you experience it the way I did. I want you to watch this one episode of the Montahue show."

"Oh my God Gilbert! Don't tell me you had an epiphany watching a talk show?"

"Yes, Carlos, I did. Stranger things have been known to happen. Please bear with me. You've done so well up to this point. It would seem a shame for you to back out after all I’ve put you through, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose it would, and quite ungracious of me too."

"Thank you, thank you so very much. You won't regret it, I promise. In fact this is going to blow your mind, like finding a pearl grown in pig shit."

"No kidding." I murmured loud enough for him to hear.

We both laughed at that once he started.

"Come with me." He said as he stood up. "I have everything all ready." We walked back down the short hall we had used to enter the kitchen and took one of the alternate closed doors to our right. It opened into a small room, which had been set up exclusively for the holo-viewer. He motioned for me to take a seat while he took the other and picked up the media wand. He dimmed the lights and the following is my written transcript of what we watched: (Slightly amended by myself, for color.)

Sitting at a large round table are Montahue and his guest, Kent Welling. Kent has very long dark hair pulled into a ponytail with eight differently colored, (terry cloth) elastic bands. His hair hangs over the back of his chair and almost touches the floor behind him. He is dressed simply in blue jeans and a printed T-shirt. Bright eyes and youthful skin are opposed to the streaks of gray running the length of the ponytail making it difficult to guess his age. He holds his hands, fingers interlocking, on top of his lower abdomen. - Because the image is zooming in from a wide shot the viewer can see Kent's legs are stretched out in front of him, crossed at the ankles. He is not slouched, but his hips are pushed forward. His attention is directed outwards though he appears to be staring through the table as if lost in thought.

Montahue, seated one quarter of the table away from his guest, is looking over some papers he is holding in his hands. He is wearing his usual stylish suit and sitting up straight in his chair. Directly in front of him, sitting in its stand on the table, is the archaic device he is so fond of using - the hand held, cordless, microphone. He appears to be waiting for the conclusion of the intro music.

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